-0.03(-0.17%)

+0.00(+0.18%)

Shop that sold guns to Newtown mom had violations

EAST WINDSOR, Conn. (AP) -- A Connecticut gun shop that legally sold weapons used in the Newtown school massacre lost its federal firearms license after the December shooting because of hundreds of violations over the past several years, according to federal authorities.

A document prepared by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives explains why Riverview Gun Sales in East Windsor lost its license. Some of the violations included letting a felon buy ammunition and selling firearms without completing background checks. The document was obtained Wednesday by WFSB-TV and the Journal News in New York.

The shop's lawyer, Rob Altchiler, told the TV station that shooter Adam Lanza's mother, Nancy Lanza, bought the Bushmaster rifle he used to kill 20 first-graders and six adults from Riverview, as well as a Sig Sauer handgun found at the school. Altchiler disputed the violations were serious enough to warrant license revocation.

The Associated Press left telephone messages with Altchiler on Thursday.

The documents accuse Riverview of committing more than 500 violations and say the licensee received 11 instances of instruction from ATF dating back to 2004 on how to comply with federal firearms laws and regulations. It says "the large number of repeat violations demonstrates that the licensee and his employees purposely disregarded and/or were plainly indifferent to their CGA obligations," referring to the Gun Control Act.

More than 300 violations were for failing to completely, accurately and timely record information, according to the document. It also cited violations for failing to record the date the background system was contacted, the response by the system or the identification number provided by the system on an ATF form before the transfer of a firearm.

Nancy Lanza filled out forms indicating she was buying the guns for herself, the Journal News reported.